Asif Rizwan, Ph.D.

Dr. Asif Rizwan is a Program Director in the Diagnostic Biomarkers and Technology Branch (DBTB) of DCTD. He leads efforts to develop biomarkers, innovative technologies and devices. These advancements may provide better research tools and assist clinical decision-making. His work integrates artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) with cancer biology to advance diagnostics, prognostics, and prediction, transforming research into actionable tools to improve patient outcomes. He is also involved in advancing New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for cancer research, supporting innovative alternatives to traditional models. He is also exploring the potential of robotics to advance cancer research tools and clinical applications.

Dr. Rizwan joined NCI in February 2024, following his role from 2019 to 2024 as a Program Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). In this role, he managed research grants in genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. He contributed to initiatives such as TOPMed, BioData Catalyst, and trans-NIH RADx and HEAL, promoting AI/ML applications and cloud-based ecosystems. He co-led NIEHS-NHLBI collaborations on projects linking health, environmental, and exposure data.

Before joining NIH, Dr. Rizwan served as a Senior Scientific Officer at the Department of Defense (DoD)’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, overseeing a cancer research portfolio focused on biomedical engineering and data science. As a Research Fellow at Johns Hopkins Medicine, he conducted studies on cancer imaging, metastasis, and metabolism.

Dr. Rizwan earned his Ph.D. in Biophysics and Systems Biology from Cornell University and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He has received three NIH Director’s Awards (2021, 2022, 2023), authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, led trans-agency workshops, and driven impactful biomedical innovations. His expertise spans biomedical engineering, AI/ML, and omics, reflecting a career devoted to advancing health science and technology.

Selected Publications

• Rizwan AM, Makhlouf HR, Bharti S, Dey SM, Ossandon MR, Robustelli CE, Samant M, Robles AI, Sorg BS, Harris LN. Artificial intelligence in cancer diagnostics: a primer for clinicians and scientists. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2026 May 7:djag143. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djag143
• Rizwan A, Divi R, Ossandon MR, Harris LN, Sorg BS. Transformative microsystems for Cancer Diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and clinical integration: Outcomes from an NCI Workshop. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2026 May 8:djag151. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djag151
• Gurkan UA, Wood DK, Carranza D, Herbertson LH, Diamond SL, Du E, Guha S, Di Paola J, Hines PC, Papautsky I, Shevkoplyas SS, Sniadecki NJ, Pamula VK, Sundd P, Rizwan A, Qasba P, Lam WA. Next generation microfluidics: fulfilling the promise of lab-on-a-chip technologies. Lab Chip. 2024 Mar 26;24(7):1867-1874.
• Rizwan A, Paidi SK, Zheng C, Cheng M, Barman I, Glunde K. Mapping the genetic basis of breast microcalcifications and their role in metastasis. Sci Rep. 2018 Jul 23;8(1):11067.
• Rizwan A, Bulte C, Kalaichelvan A, Cheng M, Krishnamachary B, Bhujwalla ZM, Jiang L, Glunde K. Metastatic breast cancer cells in lymph nodes increase nodal collagen density. Sci Rep. 2015 May 7;5:10002.

Education

• Ph.D., Cornell University and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY
• M.S., University of Texas, Arlington, TX